According to New York State's education program definitions, CEA is a combination of technology-oriented engineering, plant science, and computer management controls that "optimize plant growing systems, plant quality and production efficiency" for greenhouses. Controlled Environment Agriculture is a fast-developing field of study designed to provide "secure, healthy, and cost-effective year-round production" of premium edible, ornamental, and high value plant species. Greenhouses are the primary environments, but some crops, soil-free alternatives like hydroponics and aquaponics, in particular, can be established in traditional buildings utilizing specialized lighting and temperature controls.
To date, although there is much interest and enthusiasm for CEA, it is still not considered a mainstream technique for supplying the bulk of food products for human consumption. That, however, may change in the future, as alternatives become more efficient and cost-effective. A number of initial commercial forays into food production were initially greeted with much enthusiasm, but were also met with scheduling and production problems as well as financial difficulties, and were closed after some initial success. The promise, however, of large-scale food production to feed a growing world population with energy-efficient and eco-friendly high-tech growing methods still exists, and will likely become more viable in the future.
